Axis Capital Holdings Limited $AXS Shares Bought by SG Americas Securities LLC

Key Points

• SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS) by 212.1% in Q4, purchasing an additional 12,874 shares to hold 18,944 shares valued at about $2.03 million.
• Axis beat quarterly estimates, reporting $3.25 EPS versus $2.97 expected and $1.73B revenue versus $1.33B expected, with an 18.72% return on equity and a 15.37% net margin.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 (annualized $1.76, 1.7% yield; ex-dividend Mar 31, payable Apr 15) and holds a consensus analyst rating of Moderate Buy with an average price target of $124.

SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in shares of Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) by 212.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,944 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 12,874 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC's holdings in Axis Capital were worth $2,029,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC grew its holdings in Axis Capital by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 2,104 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $202,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Pitcairn Co. lifted its holdings in Axis Capital by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Pitcairn Co. now owns 8,358 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $868,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Axis Capital by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 26,690 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $2,557,000 after buying an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Croban boosted its position in Axis Capital by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Croban now owns 10,249 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $982,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kera Capital Partners Inc. grew its stake in shares of Axis Capital by 5.3% during the third quarter. Kera Capital Partners Inc. now owns 3,257 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $312,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. 93.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Axis Capital Trading Up 0.1%

NYSE:AXS opened at $101.74 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $7.53 billion, a PE ratio of 8.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.63. The business's 50 day moving average is $102.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $100.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Axis Capital Holdings Limited has a 52 week low of $84.81 and a 52 week high of $110.34.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The insurance provider reported $3.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.33 billion. Axis Capital had a return on equity of 18.72% and a net margin of 15.37%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 17.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.38 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Axis Capital Holdings Limited will post 11.19 EPS for the current year.

Axis Capital Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a $0.44 dividend. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. Axis Capital's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.21%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on AXS shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Axis Capital from $121.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Axis Capital from $124.00 to $121.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Axis Capital from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Bank of America reduced their target price on Axis Capital from $119.00 to $115.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and issued a $122.00 price target on shares of Axis Capital in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Axis Capital currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $124.00.

Axis Capital Company Profile

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products in Bermuda, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers; and property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, property in transit, onshore renewable energy installations, and physical damage and business interruption following an act of terrorism.

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